INEC Opens 2027 Election Media Accreditation, Sets December 1 Deadline

INEC Logo

By Titus Eleweke

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has opened its online accreditation portal for media organisations seeking to cover the 2027 general election, setting December 1, 2026, as the deadline for applications.

The Commission said the accreditation process would be conducted exclusively online, warning that late applications would not be accepted after the portal closes at midnight on December 1.

In its guidelines for media accreditation, INEC said the portal, available at https://imap.inecnigeria.org/, opened on Friday, October 30, 2026, to enable media organisations to register and nominate journalists and other personnel for election coverage.

The Commission said the online process was designed to ensure orderly and effective media coverage while facilitating the efficient and transparent verification of applicants.

Under the guidelines, each media organisation is required to appoint a liaison officer to coordinate its accreditation process and submit applications on behalf of the organisation and its nominated personnel.

Applicants are required to upload the organisation’s official logo, a signed letter of introduction on its letterhead containing the names and roles of nominated personnel, recent passport photographs and valid official work identity cards.

Media organisations must also provide their website addresses and evidence of regular publications within the 90 days preceding their applications.

Print media organisations may be required to submit scanned copies of at least three recent editions of their publications.

INEC stressed that all documents must be submitted electronically through the portal, adding that hard-copy applications would not be accepted.

The Commission said successful applicants would collect their accreditation kits at designated centres across the states between January 11 and 15, 2027, from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. daily.

In the Federal Capital Territory, the collection centre will be the INEC FCT office in Area 10, Garki, Abuja.

The accreditation tags will serve as passes for the two dates scheduled for the 2027 general election: January 16 and February 6, 2027.

INEC said only accredited media organisations and personnel would be permitted free movement or access to polling units, collation centres and its office facilities.

The Commission announced restrictions on the number of journalists permitted at collation centres, citing space limitations and safety considerations.

Under the arrangement, selected radio stations and newspaper organisations will be allowed one accredited representative each, while selected television stations may deploy two representatives, comprising a reporter and a cameraman.

Additional access may be granted to media organisations deploying outside broadcast facilities, subject to INEC’s approval and available space.

Access to the National Collation Centre in Abuja for the presidential election results will be governed by a special arrangement.

INEC said media organisations selected for access would be contacted directly.

INEC directed accredited journalists to display their accreditation tags conspicuously on election days and cover all stages of the electoral process, including voter accreditation, voting and ballot counting, without interfering with proceedings or compromising ballot secrecy.

Journalists are also expected to report accurately and impartially, verify information before publication and refrain from disseminating false information, unverified results or content capable of inciting violence.

The Commission identified its official website, www.inecnigeria.org, verified social media handles @INECnigeria and the INEC Citizens Contact Centre as official channels for verifying election-related information.

Accredited media personnel are prohibited from photographing or filming voters marking their ballots, reproducing voter registers or personal documents in ways that violate privacy, and handling ballot papers, ballot boxes or result sheets without legal authorisation.

INEC warned that violations of the guidelines could lead to the suspension or revocation of accreditation.

The accreditation process consists of five stages: organisation registration, application management, personnel management, personnel nomination and final submission.

Returning applicants may log in with their existing credentials, while fresh applicants must register and verify their email addresses before completing their profiles.

After entering election details, uploading the required documents and nominating personnel, applicants must click the “Finish Nomination” button to complete the process.

INEC cautioned that submitted applications cannot be reversed and said there would be no manual accreditation.
Applicants experiencing technical difficulties may contact the support team on 08063041332 or 08032861058, or email imapenquiries@gmail.com.